Railroad-signal



m5 Model.)

G.:MACQUART; RAILROAD SIGNAL 'No". 268,916. Patented Dec. 12.- 1882.

' -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE MACQUART, OF RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 268,916, dated December 12, 1882.

(No model.)

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. GUSTAVE MAOQUART. a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Red Bluff, in the county of Tehama and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Signals;

* and I do hereby declare the following to be a Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the device.

This invention has relation to improvements in railroad-signals; and it has for its object to provide a danger-signal which will, under the conditions hereinafter set forth, notify the engineer or lookout on a train of cars of washouts on the road or caving in of a tunnel or the breaking of a bridge. n

'My invention consists in a tube fixed to the cross-ties of a railroad-track, and having inserted therein a rod or wire, the ends of which are attached to the eyes of spring bolts or catches, in combination with a signaling device, as hereinafter described. My invention further consists in the combination, with a railroad track and tubing running parallel with the rails, of a rod or wire in said tube, a spring bolt or catch, and a signalin g device.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A represents arailroad-track of the usual construction.

The letter B represents a tube running parallel with the track, and'fixed to the cross-ties or preferably boxed securely and sunk below the bed of the track. Two of these bolts are used,substantially as seen in the drawings.

The letter D represents an automatic signal pivotally supported, so that the ball on the ground end of the signal-bar shall be heavier than the bar and signal above the bearing, and is so arranged .as to swing at right angles ,to the line of road, and is set so that when drawn inaposition indicating safety the lower arm shall engage with the end of the bolt, and be held in that position until released.

The signaling device is of usual construction, and is preferably set in the same box as the spring bolts or catches to give security against accident or unwarranted displacement.

The operation of my improved signal is antomatic, and occurs whenever any displacement of the track takes place, occasionin g sufficient movement of the tube and rod to pull the bolts from engagement with the arms of the signals, which being thus freed,the signals arecarried from safety position to danger by the weight on the other end of the signalbarl For instance, if a wash-out or slide happens and the track is destroyed or misplaced, the disturbance must necessarily carry with it the tubing and wire, and in doing so the bolts will be pulled, which will release the signalbars. Again, it the device is laid on a bridge and the bridge is destroyed or broken or slides. the bolts are drawn and the signals freed, and if in a tunnel a cave in occurs and the debris strikes the tube, it is moved and the bolts are drawn from place.

It will be observed that the tubing should be of such size as not to be so strong as to resist great strain, and the rod or wire should be suited to draw the bolt on any occasion arising by accident.

The signals should be placed at such dis-. tance from the place to be guarded as to insure stopping a train running at full speed before reaching the point of danger. The accoma danger. This is a matter entirely d'iscre- 2 v 2cs,91c

lionary with the road managers, and either mode,vertical or inclined, ofindicating danger may be employed.

I reserve the right to slightly vary the construction of the device without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In a railroad-signal, a tubing secured to the cross-tie ot' a railroad-track and having inserted loosely in the bore of the tubing a me-- tallic rod or wire, in combination with spring bolts or catches attached to the ends of the rod or wire, and a signaling device, substantially as described.

2. In a railroad signaling device, a metallic tubing fixed to the cross-tiesot' arailroad-track, having a metallic rod'or wire inserted through said tube, the ends whereof are fastened to bolts or catches, in combination with a signaling device, substantially as described.

3. In combination, with a railroad-track and metallic tubing running parallel with the rails, of a metallic rod or wire running through said tube, a spring bolt or catch, and a signaling device, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a railroad-track,

of a metallic tubing running parallel with the track and fixed to the cross-ties thereof, a rod or Wire in said tube having the ends attached to bolts or catches, and a signaling device, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE MAOQUART. \Vitnesses:

(l. H; SIMPsoN, W. (J. CAMPBELL. 

